some people have recently quoted Pitto is a 70% GT player.
That's incorrect. He was in 2022-24. He's now a 60% player. Anymore than that and he is not giving it 100%
He needs to be giving the ruck duel 100% effort to break even. let alone win.

Pitto is enjoying a great year in first halves, with a chop out, and fading in 2nd halves.
I believe he has attracted some fans this year because he has been kicking goals in the first half.
Furthermore, I believe he has attracted some fans this year (previously detractors) because he's the best of the two rucks we have.

Unfortunately, aside from round 1 game against the Swans when Reidy was out of his depth against AA ruck Grundy when giving the chop out, the 2nd rucks, O'Keefe and Young have not been competitive, and that's when oppo get on top of us in the CB, where all the damage has come from this year in 5-10 minute bursts.

This is how I see it:

TDK + Marshall > Pitto 70% (HOK/Young) see vs Rich, Melb
TDK + Marshall > Pitto 70% (Kemp) see vs NM
TDK + Marshall > Pitto 65% (HOK) see v Adel
TDK + Marshall > Pitto 60% (Young) see Coll (Pitto had broken hand)
TDK + Marshall > Reidy 70% (Young) see vs Freo

TDK + Marshall vs Pitto 60% (Reidy) a fair fight. (HOK and Young havent been competitive in the ruck this year...and young is no ruck just a stop gap)

I expect Pitto to "soften up" TDK early then reidy continue the 100% physical effort crashing into and falling on TDK to wear him out, and provide a strong body vs Maeshall when he rucks. We can't afford to allow the saints rucks to dominate for 5-10 minutes in the 2nd half. One bitten....

If Marshall or TDK were sole ruckmen in this game, I'd go with Pitto and Cripps in the ruck.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I doubt we will be Tanking this early in the season, and the selections look like winning is the objective.

Prefer not to tank but there's a case for it with the new rules released yesterday.
Prefer to fight City Hall/ AFL to postpone this year's late and thoughtless (rushed) fkd up draft rules, to give the AFL time to adjust the tanking appeal/optics, AND importantly to work the FS/NGA/Academies/FA rules as a whole.

Watching the Hawks vs Pies game last night, proves we are better than some think.
Ditto the NM vs GWS game, Melb vs GCS. We may be a star or two short, and that's about it imo. So I dont think we are that far off the pace. Last few weeks we have improved our turnover game, and our effort in the last quarters.

I think all the ins improve us. Fingers crossed Harry plays like a match winning KPF. Will be better for us than Moir
I am not shocked to see Byrne and Moir replaced. We have enough small forwards with Ainsworth, Williams, Evans, Smith.

I have to say I am shocked to see Wilson over looked. Shocked. I would have liked to see Wilson mixing some HB and midfield time. He does look like a wingman to me. I think Cowan is lucky to hold his spot TBH.

I know Flynn has been a good, but he's been good as a lead up forward (ala Betts @ CHF). Is that what we need with all those smalls, Gov, Kemp and Harry? Another lead up forward? I dont think so.Also, Flynn Young didn't play last week. He's not performing as a crumbing small imo.

I prefer Hewett to Lord. I don't rate Lord as high as some do. I don't think he's the future. Cripps wont be doing any rucking, so he will be the main staple on the inside. Ainsworth will be the new strong body in the midfield group. Expect CB rotations to see Smith given more time in there too. Ollie gives us pace on the outside. I'm happy with the ommission.

I have no doubt Gov will play forward and Haynes will fill his spot in the backline, leaving Cowan as 7th defender.

I am loving this team, and feel we will continue with the extra 5% incremental improvement this week to get us over the line.

I don't more than 50% GT, but its a HUGE game for Reidy. I expect some forward minutes from him...to accidently fall over and crush opponents....like SOS, and Sinclair

Go Blues

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I would play Billy in the midfield.

I would give him a shot their too.

On the flipside, Baker and Higgins can chase his tail, when he has the ball.
We have a lot of experience in the backline. Wilson would be fine imo.

He's already had a taste in 4 games last year.
He's improved since then, and looks to be in good form following a great preseason, till he got injured before round 1.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

With Flynn Young as an emergency does that mean he plays tomorrow in the twos
If not that’s 3 weeks he hasn’t played
That’s great for his development

One would assume they will make that call in the morning before the VFL game, he might only play a half.

We’re hiding him.

Just my humble, but I think we beat both Filth and Freo if we had used Young against Jackson & Cameron more. That, instead of running the #1 down to empty each shift.

Pittonet & Reidy will give us 100% ruck coverage. It’ll also leave us 100% short of a 23rd player.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

I feel dirty. I agree re Young rather than a ruck running on empty with a broken hand.

I believe the boys will take the next step, and make up for that 23rd.
Adding running machines in Cotts, Ollie and saad will get us moving.

Giving our mids best chance in the Ball Ups is a good start. Plug up that leak and next is leak....Harry

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The problem is Cru, Young can't ruck, at least not good enough to go up against those two more often.
He had 1 hit out last week from 5 CBA's and however many ball ups around the ground.
I get what you are saying, an athletic ruck that can defend and mark is more preferred.
But not if he can't get his hands on the ball at the coalface.

But I agree with a man down unless Reidy can go forwards and kick some goals.
He has in his highlights.

Young had 10 contests in total. Mismanaged.

He could’ve gone 1v1 with De Koning all day.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

You bet. Not alone either.

So 1 hit out from 10 contests.
Nah, I think the coaches called it right.
Like I said, he's not good enough to ruck.

I would like to believe he'd go with TDK all day, but I'd put big bucks on him giving TDK his first breakout game he needs to prove his 1.7mil contract.

Wilson started off the first quarter wanting the ball and in good form.
Lost confidence next 3 quarters. Weird capitulation but kept trying.
Glad we went for Saad tonight.

Lord looked good in the first. Faded in the second and take off at half time as emergency for tonight.
Not sure if he was going to move the needle for us tonight.

Hewett looked like the only one who could step into AFL and not miss a beat.

Cody Walker is special.

Happy with the team we have selected.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Couple of late outs for saints

Higgins & Wilson

Sent from my moto g54 5G using Tapatalk

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#DonTheStash

Good. Higgins is the type of shithead small we struggle with.

Can someone set up Match thread

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue